Side-loading robotic arm for front-end loading vehicles

ABSTRACT

A side-loading robotic arm for use with front-end loaders. The robotic arm is configured for disposition forward of a liftable container. The robotic arm includes a tip arm that is pivotable between a stowed position and an operational position. The stowed position stores the tip arm and gripper arms inside a vertical plane of the lifting forks of the front-end loader. Preferably, the tip arm and gripper arms are disposed in a cut-out recess on a sidewall of the liftable container. The operational position extends the tip arm and gripper arms outside of the vertical plane of the major lifting arms of the front-end loader.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/235,343, filed on Dec. 28, 2018, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Application No. 62/611,147, filed on Dec. 28, 2017.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a robotic arm mechanism forfront-end loaders. More particularly, the invention is directed to aside-loading robotic arm compatible for use with a liftable container onthe front-end loader.

Conventional side-loading robotic arms are typically integral with orotherwise attached to the liftable containers with which they areintended to be used. Such integral or attached construction of therobotic arm to the liftable container presents certain drawbacks. Whenusing a combined robotic arm and liftable container, the front-endloader is incapable of being easily used with any other liftablecontainers. Because the robotic arm portion of the combination requiresconnected hydraulic, electrical, and/or other control interfaces, adriver must exit the vehicle to disconnect such control interfaces priorto removing a combined robotic arm and liftable container from the forksof the front-end loader. Only after the combined robotic arm andliftable container is removed from the forks of the front-end loader canthe front-end loader be used to lift a different liftable container.

In addition, the combined robotic arm and liftable container cannoteasily be used with a different front-end loader. Because front-endloaders have different designs and configurations, a driver must alwaysbe concerned that a robotic arm attached to a liftable container hasclearance throughout the entire lifting arc of the forks on a front-endloader relative to the vehicle. Thus, a combined robotic arm andliftable container is not necessarily compatible with the forks of everyfront-end loader. There is always a concern that a combined robotic armand liftable container will follow a path that intersects with thevehicle when used on a front-end loader of a different design orconfiguration, whether the robotic arm is connected to a controlinterface or not.

Furthermore, a combined robotic arm and liftable container is limited inits use to only the liftable container of the combination. Sometimes, itis advantageous for a driver to be able to use a different containerwith a robotic arm, i.e., a larger container or a container of adifferent shape. A driver may find this to be an advantage when using afront-end loader in a particular area, such as a commercial facilitythat has its own liftable containers configured for their special needsor when switching from types of waste, i.e., garbage, recyclables, yardwaste, etc.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved side-loading robotic armthat is capable of being used with a front-end loader, while not beingcombined with or attached to a liftable container, permits use withdifferent liftable containers on the same front-end loader, and allowsfor easily switching of liftable containers without the need for adriver to exit the vehicle and disconnect a control interface in orderto switch liftable containers. The present invention fulfills theseneeds and provides other related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a side-loading robotic arm forfront-end loaders. The side-loading robotic arm includes a pair oflateral rails disposed in parallel and attached to a front wall of aliftable container. A base motor is attached to one end of the pair oflateral rails. A carriage body is slidingly disposed on the pair oflateral rails and operationally connected to the base motor. A raisingarm is pivotingly attached at one end to the carriage body and a tip armis pivotingly attached to the raising arm opposite the carriage body.The tip arm is pivotable between a vertical stowed position and ahorizontal operational position. A pair of gripper arms is attached tothe tip arm. The carriage body is operationally connected to the basemotor by a reciprocating device configured to move the carriage bodyback and forth along the pair of lateral rails.

A lift cylinder is operationally connected at one end to the carriagebody and at an opposite end to the raising arm. Similarly, a tipcylinder is operationally connected at one end to the tip arm and at anopposite end to the raising arm. The tip arm preferably includes anattachment portion and an offset portion, each perpendicularly connectedto the other. The attachment portion is connected at one end to theraising arm and at an opposite end to the offset portion. The offsetportion is connected at one end to the attachment portion, and thegripper arms are attached to the offset portion at a mid-point or anopposite end relative to the attachment portion.

The vertical stowed position disposes the tip arm in a cut-out recess ona sidewall of the liftable container. The robotic arm may include abracket attached to the sidewall of the liftable container configuredfor selective attachment to a flange on the tip arm.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following more detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the opposite side of FIG. 1 of theside-loading robotic arm of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the side-loading robotic arm of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a right-side view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a left-side view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the side-loading robotic arm ofthe present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention paired with a liftable container, showing the clampmechanism in a stowed position;

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the side-loading robotic arm of the presentinvention paired with a liftable container;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the side-loading robotic arm of the presentinvention paired with a liftable container on the forks of a front-endloader, showing the clamp mechanism in a stowed position;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention mounted in the forks of a front-end loader and pairedwith a liftable container;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention paired with a liftable container, showing the clampmechanism in a lowered position;

FIG. 12 is a top view of the side-loading robotic arm of the presentinvention paired with a liftable container, showing the clamp mechanismin a lowered position;

FIG. 13 is a rear view of the side-loading robotic arm of the presentinvention paired with a liftable container, showing the clamp mechanismin a lowered position;

FIG. 14 is a right-side view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention paired with a liftable container, showing the clampmechanism in a lowered position;

FIG. 15 is a left-side view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention paired with a liftable container;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention paired with a liftable container on the forks of afront-end loader, showing the clamp mechanism in a lowered position;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view from the opposite side of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a top view of the side-loading robotic arm of the presentinvention paired with a liftable container on the forks of a front-endloader, showing the clamp mechanism in a lowered position;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention paired with a liftable container on the forks of afront-end loader, showing the clamp mechanism in a lowered position andgrasping a cart from a retracted position;

FIG. 20 is a front view of the side-loading robotic arm of the presentinvention paired with a liftable container on the forks of a front-endloader, showing the clamp mechanism in a lowered position and grasping acart from a retracted position;

FIG. 21 is a top view of the side-loading robotic arm of the presentinvention paired with a liftable container on the forks of a front-endloader, showing the clamp mechanism in a lowered position and grasping acart from a retracted position;

FIG. 22 is a rear view of the side-loading robotic arm of the presentinvention paired with a liftable container, showing the clamp mechanismin a lowered position and grasping a cart from a retracted position;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention paired with a liftable container, showing the clampmechanism in a lowered position and grasping a cart from an extendedposition;

FIG. 24 is a rear view of the side-loading robotic arm of the presentinvention paired with a liftable container, showing the clamp mechanismin a lowered position and grasping a cart from an extended position;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention paired with a liftable container, showing the roboticarm dumping a cart in the liftable container from an extended position;

FIG. 26 is rear view of the side-loading robotic arm of the presentinvention paired with a liftable container, showing the robotic armdumping a cart in the liftable container from an extended position;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention paired with a liftable container, showing the roboticarm dumping a cart in the liftable container from an extended position;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention paired with a liftable container, showing the roboticarm dumping a cart in the liftable container from a retracted position;

FIG. 29 is rear view of the side-loading robotic arm of the presentinvention paired with a liftable container, showing the robotic armdumping a cart in the liftable container from a retracted position;

FIG. 30 is a rear view of the side-loading robotic arm of the presentinvention paired with a liftable container, showing the robotic armdumping a cart in the liftable container from a retracted position;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention paired with a liftable container, showing the roboticarm dumping a cart in the liftable container from a retracted position;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the side-loading robotic arm of thepresent invention paired with a liftable container on the forks of afront-end loader, showing the robotic arm dumping a cart in the liftablecontainer from a retracted position;

FIG. 33 is a front view of a second embodiment of the side-loadingrobotic arm of the present invention attached to a liftable container,showing the robotic arm in a stowed position;

FIG. 34 is a side view of the second embodiment of the side-loadingrobotic arm of the present invention attached to a liftable container,showing the robotic arm in a stowed position;

FIG. 35 is a top view of the second embodiment of the side-loadingrobotic arm of the present invention attached to a liftable container,showing the robotic arm in an operational position;

FIG. 36 is a side view of the second embodiment of the side-loadingrobotic arm of the present invention attached to a liftable container,showing the robotic arm in an operational position;

FIG. 37 is a front view of the second embodiment of the side-loadingrobotic arm of the present invention attached to a liftable container,showing the robotic arm in a retracted, operational position;

FIG. 38 is a front view of the second embodiment of the side-loadingrobotic arm of the present invention attached to a liftable container,showing the robotic arm in an extended, operational position; and

FIG. 39 is a front view of the second embodiment of the side-loadingrobotic arm of the present invention attached to a liftable container,showing the robotic arm in a retracted, dumping position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, the side-loading robotic arm ofthe present invention is generally referred to by reference numeral 40in FIGS. 1-5. The primary components of the side-loading robotic arm 40include fork clamps 42, a base motor 43, a lateral carriage body 44, araising arm 46 and a tip arm 48.

The fork clamps 42 include a pair of channels 50, each configured toreceive one of a pair of forks as from a front-end loader (see below).The pair of channels 50 are disposed a distance apart from each otherand joined together by a pair of lateral rails 52. The junctions betweenthe channels 50 and rails 52 are preferably reinforced to sustain forcestypically encountered in collection operations as described below. Thedistance between the pair of channels 50 is approximately equal to thedistance between forks on a typical front-end loader. To the extent thedistance between forks on a front-end loader may be adjusted larger orsmaller, the distance between the pair of channels 50 may be constructedto be larger or smaller, or adjustable, wherein one or both of thechannels 50 may be slidably adjustable on the lateral rails 52. Thechannels 50 each preferably include locking pins or screws 54 (orsimilar mechanisms) for securing the channels 50 to the forks wheninserted as described below.

The base motor 43 is fixed at one end of the lateral rails 52 and worksin conjunction with the lateral carriage body 44 that is slidablymounted on the lateral rails 52 in a reciprocating manner, as by rollersor gears. The lateral carriage body 44 is preferably moveable along thelength of the lateral rails 52 from the base motor 43 to an opposite endof the rails 52. The base motor 43 and lateral carriage body 44 arepreferably operably connected by a reciprocating device such as a chain56 or similar mechanism designed to reciprocatingly move the carriagebody 44 along the rails 52.

The raising arm 46 is pivotally mounted on the lateral carriage body 44so as to be movable between a default lowered position 58 and anoperational high position 60 (FIGS. 25-32). The raising arm 46 ispreferably operated by hydraulic or pneumatic controls through a liftcylinder 62 (FIG. 25).

The tip arm 48 is pivotally mounted on the end of the raising arm 46 soas to be pivotable between a vertical stowed position 64 and ahorizontal operational position 66. The pivoting of the tip arm 48relative to the raising arm 46 is preferably operated by hydraulic orpneumatic controls through a tip cylinder 68 (FIG. 7). The tip arm 48has an attachment portion 48 a and an offset portion 48 b that arejoined in a perpendicular orientation. The tip arm 48 includes a pair ofgripper arms 70 attached to an end- or mid-point of the offset portion.The gripper arms 70 are preferably switchable between open and closedpositions, as by rotating gear mechanisms or similar devices, forgrasping and releasing carts or other bins 72. The attachment portion 48a is attached to the end of the raising arm 46. The offset portion 48 bextends perpendicularly from the attachment portion 48 a such that thegripper arms 70 are offset relative to the carriage body 44, i.e.,in-line with a container 78 carried by the forks 74, as described morefully below.

As shown in FIGS. 6-9, the channels 50 of the fork clamps 42 areconfigured to receive forks 74 as may be found on a front-end loader 76or similar vehicle. The robotic arm 40 is mountable on the forks 74 onits own, independent of a dumpster or similar container 78. The forks 74are preferably fully received in the channels 50 such that the roboticarm 40 is mounted as far back on the forks 74 as possible, with a majorportion of the forks 74 protruding from the front of the channels 50.

A container 78 is mountable on the major portion of the forks 74protruding from the channels 50. The forks 74 are receivable in forkreceiving pockets 79 or similar structures as are commonly found onsimilar containers 78. While the robotic arm 40 is securely attached tothe forks 74 as by the locking screws 54 on the channels 50, the pockets79 of the container 78 are preferably freely slidable on the forks 74.This distinction between attachments to the forks 74 allows forwhichever vehicle 76 to which the robotic arm 40 is attached to beselectively and easily used with any container 78 independent of therobotic arm 40. This is most clearly illustrated in FIG. 6 where therobotic arm 40 is mounted on the forks 74 without a container 78. Thevehicle 76 preferably includes controller connections proximate to theforks 74, which connections are configured to connect to the base motor43. These controller connections include electrical, hydraulic, and/orpneumatic connectors to control the various motors and cylinders asdescribed herein.

As shown in FIGS. 7-10, when the tip arm 48 is in the vertical stowposition 64, the tip arm 48 and gripper arms 70 conform closely to theside of a container 78, particularly when both the robotic arm 40 andcontainer 78 are mounted on forks 74. As shown most clearly in FIG. 9,the tip arm 48 and gripper arms 70 are also inside the major arms 74 aupon which the forks 74 are mounted. This configuration allows clearancefor the major arms 74 a to raise the robotic arm 40 and container 78 asa unit to empty the contents into the vehicle 78. The vertical stowposition 64 uses less lateral space and allows for the robotic arm 40 tobe used with wider containers 78, including standard commercialcontainers without the need to remove the robotic arm 40 from the forks74.

As shown in FIGS. 11-18, the movement of the tip arm 48 and gripper arms70 from the stowed position 64 to the operational position 66 orientsthe gripper arms 70 to the right side of the container 78 and extendsthe gripper arms 70 beyond the vertical plane of the major arms 74 a. Inthis operational position 66, the tip arm 48 and gripper arms 70 preventlifting of the robotic arm 40 and container 78 by the major arms 74 a.Lowering the tip arm 48 to the operational position 66 also increasesthe initial reach of the gripper arms 70 beyond the end of the raisingarm 46 and outside the vertical plane of the major arms 74 a.

The increase in initial reach will generally correspond to the length ofan attachment portion 48 a of the tip arm 48. The attachment portion 48a extends from the end of the raising arm 46 to an operational verticalplane along the right-side of the vehicle 76, which effectively shortensthe travel distance of the carriage body 44 required for the robotic arm40 to retrieve carts 72 at or past standard distances.

Prior art robotic arms lacking a structure similar to a tip arm toswitch between a vertical stowed position and a horizontal operationalposition require a greater range of lateral movement of a carriage bodyto achieve similar range of operation. However, because of the limitedspace between major arms on a front-end loader, there is limited rangeof lateral movement available between the major arms. Thus, theinventive tip arm 48 and the switch between vertical stowed position 64and horizontal operating position 66 increases the operational reach ofthe robotic arm 40 compared to prior art devices.

From the operational vertical plane along the right-side of the vehicle76, the gripper arms 70 are capable of grasping a cart 72 without any orvery little lateral movement of the carriage body 44 along the rails 52.The requirement for shorter travel of the carriage body 44 means thatthe robotic arm 40 can operate between the major arms 74 a allowing fora wider, more stable reach mechanism inherent in the robotic arm 40.Similarly, at full lateral movement of the carriage body 44 along therails 52, the gripper arms 70 are capable of grasping a cart 72 beyondthe standard reach of prior art robotic arms, equal to the length of theattachment portion 48 a.

FIGS. 19-22 illustrate the gripper arms 70 engaging a cart 72 from afully retracted position of the carriage body 44 relative to the lateralrails 52. As shown, the gripper arms 70 are capable of grasping a cart72 from a fully retracted position, while the cart 72 is still outsideof the vertical plane along the right-side of the vehicle 76. Beingoutside of the vertical plane along the right-side of the vehicle 76means that the cart 72 has clearance along the entire length of thevehicle 76. The extra reach of the gripper arms 70 available in theoperational position 66 of the tip arm 48 allows a user grip and dumpcarts 72 without the need to use the reach mechanism of the carriagebody 44.

FIGS. 23-24 show the gripper arms 70 grasping a cart 72 from a fullyextended position of the carriage body 44 relative to the lateral rails52. In this fully extended position, the gripper arms 70 can grasp carts72 well beyond the standard distance of prior art robotic arms, by asmuch as the length of the attachment portion 48 a of the tip arm 48.Although not illustrated, the robotic arm 40 can grasp carts 72 at anypoint between the fully retracted and fully extended positions of thecarriage body 44.

FIGS. 25-32 illustrate the inventive robotic arm 40 dumping a cart 72into a container 78. As can be seen, the dumping operation involves therobotic arm 40 pivoting the raising arm 46 upward relative to thelateral rails 50 and simultaneously pivoting the tip arm upward into thevertical position. This combined pivoting of the raising arm 46 and tiparm 48 results in the cart 72 being inverted at a point over thecontainer 78, generally in line with the carriage body 44.

In particular, FIGS. 25-27 illustrate such dumping operation from thefully extended position of the carriage body 44. When the cart 72 isinverted with the carriage body 44 in the fully extended position, thecontents of the cart 72 are dumped into the container in line with thecarriage body 44, i.e., at a point proximate or adjacent to theright-wall of the container 78. Prior art robotic arms lacking in a tiparm 48 would need to retract the carriage body from the fully extendedposition before inverting the cart 72 or risk dumping the contents ofthe cart onto the street.

FIGS. 28-32 illustrate the dumping operation from the fully retractedposition of the carriage body 44. Even from this fully retractedposition, the robotic arm 40 is capable of dumping the contents of thecart 72 into the container 78 without any lateral movement of thecarriage body 44. As shown, the cart 72 is again inverted over thecontainer 78 at a point in-line with the carriage body 44, i.e.,proximate or adjacent to the left-wall of the container 78. Because thecombination of the raising arm 46 and tip arm 48 cause the cart 72 to bedumped at a point in-line with the carriage body 44 it is impossible fora user to miss the container 78 during a dumping operation without theneed for location switches or other position sensors as are found in theprior art.

FIGS. 33-39 illustrate a second embodiment of the robotic arm 40′ thatis positioned forward of a container 78 relative to the vehicle 76. Thesecond embodiment of the robotic arm 40′ may be mounted on forks 74 thatprotrude forward of the container 78. More preferably, the secondembodiment of the robotic arm 40′ is mounted directly onto the frontwall 78 a of the container 78, with the rails 52 bolted or welded to thefront wall 78 a.

As with the first embodiment, the second embodiment of the robotic arm40′ includes the base motor 43, the lateral carriage body 44, theraising arm 46 and the tip arm 48. Where the robotic arm 40′ is notattached to the front wall 78 a, but configured for securing to theforks 74, the robotic arm 40′ will also include fork clamps 42.

Again, the raising arm 46 is pivotally mounted on the lateral carriagebody 44 so as to be movable between a default lowered position 58 and anoperational high position 60 (FIGS. 37 and 39). The raising arm 46 ispreferably operated by hydraulic or pneumatic controls through a liftcylinder 62 (FIG. 39). The tip arm 48 is pivotally mounted on the end ofthe raising arm 46 so as to be pivotable between a vertical stowedposition 64 and a horizontal operational position 66. The pivoting ofthe tip arm 48 relative to the raising arm 46 is preferably operated byhydraulic or pneumatic controls through a tip cylinder 68 (FIGS. 33 and37). The tip arm 48 has an attachment portion 48 a and an offset portion48 b that are joined in a perpendicular orientation. The tip arm 48includes a pair of gripper arms 70 attached to an end- or mid-point ofthe offset portion. The gripper arms 70 are preferably switchablebetween open and closed positions, as by rotating gear mechanisms orsimilar devices, for grasping and releasing carts or other bins 72. Theattachment portion 48 a is attached to the end of the raising arm 46.The offset portion 48 b extends perpendicularly from the attachmentportion 48 a such that the gripper arms 70 are offset relative to thecarriage body 44, i.e., in-line with a container 78 carried by the forks74, as described more fully below.

In the vertical stowed position 64, the tip arm 48 includes a flange 80that is attachable to a bracket 82 fixed to a sidewall 78 b of thecontainer 78. The flange 80 and bracket 82 are useable to secure therobotic arm 40′ during transport or non-operation. The sidewall 78 bfurther includes a cut-out recess 84 that generally conforms to the sizeand shape of the tip arm 48 and gripper arms 70 in the stowed position64. The cut-out recess 84 provides a measure of protection to the tiparm 48 and gripper arms 70 against impact with external objects that maypass along the sidewall 78 b of the container 78 when the tip arm 48 isin the stowed position 64. The cut-out recess 84 provides raisedplatforms on the sidewall 78 b—both a forward platform 86 and a rearwardplatform 88—relative to the tip arm 48 and gripper arms 70. The cut-outrecess 84, forward platform 86, and rearward platform 88 have a depththat approximates the

Both embodiments of the robotic arm 40, 40′ described herein have anumber of particular features that should preferably be employed incombination, although each is useful separately without departure fromthe scope and spirit of the invention. Although preferred embodimentshave been described in detail for purposes of illustration, variousmodifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, exceptas by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A side-loading robotic arm, comprising: a pair oflateral rails disposed in parallel and attached to a front wall of aliftable container; a base motor attached to one end of the pair oflateral rails; a carriage body slidingly disposed on the pair of lateralrails and operationally connected to the base motor; a raising armpivotingly attached at one end to the carriage body and configured so asto pivot in a vertical plane oriented parallel to the pair of lateralrails; a tip arm pivotingly attached to the raising arm opposite thecarriage body, wherein the tip arm is pivotable between a verticalstowed position and a horizontal operational position relative to asidewall of the liftable container; and a pair of gripper arms attachedto the tip arm, wherein the tip arm and pair of gripper arms conformwithin a plane of the sidewall of the liftable container when in thevertical stowed position, and wherein the tip arm and pair of gripperarms extend away from the plane of the sidewall of the liftablecontainer when in the horizontal operational position.
 2. The roboticarm of claim 1, wherein the carriage body is operationally connected tothe base motor by a reciprocating device configured to move the carriagebody back and forth along the pair of lateral rails.
 3. The robotic armof claim 1, further comprising a lift cylinder operationally connectedat one end to the carriage body and at an opposite end to the raisingarm.
 4. The robotic arm of claim 1, further comprising a tip cylinderoperationally connected at one end to the tip arm and at an opposite endto the raising arm.
 5. The robotic arm of claim 1, wherein the tip armcomprises an attachment portion and an offset portion, eachperpendicularly connected to the other.
 6. The robotic arm of claim 5,wherein the attachment portion is connected at one end to the raisingarm and at an opposite end to the offset portion.
 7. The robotic arm ofclaim 6, wherein the attachment portion extends the pair of gripper armswider than the sidewall of the liftable container when the tip arm is inthe horizontal operational position.
 8. The robotic arm of claim 5,wherein the offset portion is connected at one end to the attachmentportion, and the gripper arms are attached to the offset portion at amid-point or an opposite end relative to the attachment portion.
 9. Therobotic arm of claim 1, wherein the vertical stowed position disposesthe tip arm and pair of gripper arms in a cut-out recess on the sidewallof the liftable container.
 10. The robotic arm of claim 9, furthercomprising a bracket attached to the sidewall of the liftable containerconfigured for selective attachment to a flange on the tip arm.
 11. Aside-loading robotic arm, comprising: a pair of lateral rails disposedin parallel attached to a front wall of a liftable container; a basemotor attached to one end of the pair of lateral rails; a carriage bodyslidingly disposed on the pair of lateral rails and operationallyconnected to the base motor; a raising arm pivotingly attached at oneend to the carriage body and configured so as to pivot in a verticalplane oriented parallel to the pair of lateral rails; a tip armpivotingly attached to the raising arm opposite the carriage body and atip cylinder operationally connected at one end to the tip arm and at anopposite end to the raising arm, wherein the tip cylinder is configuredto pivot the tip arm between a vertical stowed position and a horizontaloperational position relative to a sidewall of the liftable container;and a pair of gripper arms attached to the tip arm, wherein the tip armand pair of gripper arms conform within a plane of the sidewall of theliftable container when in the vertical stowed position, and wherein thetip arm and pair of gripper arms extend away from the plane of thesidewall of the liftable container when in the horizontal operationalposition.
 12. The robotic arm of claim 11, wherein the carriage body isoperationally connected to the base motor by a reciprocating deviceconfigured to move the carriage body back and forth along the pair oflateral rails.
 13. The robotic arm of claim 11, further comprising alift cylinder operationally connected at one end to the carriage bodyand at an opposite end to the raising arm.
 14. The robotic arm of claim11, wherein the tip arm comprises an attachment portion and an offsetportion, each perpendicularly connected to the other.
 15. The roboticarm of claim 14, wherein the attachment portion is connected at one endto the raising arm and at an opposite end to the offset portion.
 16. Therobotic arm of claim 15, wherein the attachment portion extends the pairof gripper arms wider than the sidewall of the liftable container whenthe tip arm is in the horizontal operational position.
 17. The roboticarm of claim 15, wherein the offset portion is connected at one end tothe attachment portion, and the gripper arms are attached to the offsetportion at a mid-point or an opposite end relative to the attachmentportion.
 18. The robotic arm of claim 11, wherein the vertical stowedposition disposes the tip arm in a cut-out recess on the sidewall of theliftable container.
 19. The robotic arm of claim 18, further comprisinga bracket attached to the sidewall of the liftable container configuredfor selective attachment to a flange on the tip arm.
 20. A side-loadingrobotic arm, comprising: a pair of lateral rails disposed in paralleland attached to a front wall of a liftable container; a base motorattached to one end of the pair of lateral rails; a carriage bodyslidingly disposed on the pair of lateral rails and operationallyconnected to the base motor; a raising arm pivotingly attached at oneend to the carriage body and configured so as to pivot in a verticalplane oriented parallel to the pair of lateral rails; a tip arm havingan attachment portion perpendicularly connected to an offset portion,wherein the attachment portion is pivotingly attached to the raising armopposite the carriage body, wherein the tip arm is pivotable between avertical stowed position and a horizontal operational position relativeto a sidewall of the liftable container; a pair of gripper arms attachedto the offset portion of the tip arm, wherein the tip arm and pair ofgripper arms conform within a plane of the sidewall of the liftablecontainer when in the vertical stowed position, and wherein the tip armand pair of gripper arms extend away from the plane of the sidewall ofthe liftable container when in the horizontal operational position; andwherein the vertical stowed position disposes the tip arm in a cut-outrecess on the sidewall of the liftable container.